Tuesday, January 16, 2007

At my house 2007 is "The Year of the Red Bitch"


She's a major UFO (Unfinished Obsession) but I refer to her as THE EVIL DEVIL WOMAN IN RED FROM HELL. To Marilyn Levitt-Imblum who designed her, she's Celtic Christmas (Lavendar & Lace for Told in a Garden).

When she was released back in 1995 I fell dead in love with her. I quickly kitted this up and realized that being in school I shouldn't really start something like this. After mentioning to a friend in Finland that I had kitted this up, she said she wanted to stitch it as well, so I boxed up chart, fabric, fibers and beads and shipped them off to her. I'm happy to report that my friend Marja-Liisa stitched and framed her Celtic Christmas in no time and she's just beautiful.

The story goes something like....it was a cold gray March day in 1998. I was taking a class in Philosophy studying Plato, Socrates and Aristotle. I had recently re-kitted Celtic Christmas to stitch "someday" and would get the materials out from time to time just to dream. But on this day I needed more in my life than the words of those three wise men, but in digging thru stash to find some small thing to work on, I could resist no longer and started stitching. To this day I remember sitting in front of the window savoring every stitch of red fiber on green fabric. For a few weeks I could not put her down (I also couldn't find much time to study, which might explain a lot today).

The red quickly got to me, the metallic really got to me, the beading got to me to, but not before I finished the borders. I made a BOO BOO in her dress where I only crossed one thread and have been trying to fix that for what seems like ages. For a while I decided to refer to her as Fiona of Skye, thinking that may help her cause and enable me to actually finish her and not hate her so much. That didn't work either.

Now I'm just tired of this huge chart, the big hunk of fabric and the box of fiber that I have to move everytime I dig thru the UFOs and have decided that since the date near her foot says '1999' that it may just be time to bite the bullet and finish her. Once finished I'm not sure I'd be willing to look at her, but perhaps my mother would like to have her come stay at her house.

8 Comments:

Blogger Toukan äiti said...

I'll cheer you on :) There's not that much left. I understand why you wouldn't want to see her on your walls jst now, but maybe in a few years? It is a gorgeous design.

2:53 PM  
Blogger Debs said...

This is a stunning piece and I'm sure you'll do fine with her. Love your Flea market find too--you are obsessed again with stitching. Fob looks great too. Ready to work on a bourse?

3:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I hear you - I haven't stitched this one, but I did stitch "Angel of Mercy", which features an Angel in a Victorian style gown, and a little girl, both wearing white dresses. I quickly got sick of stitching with white, but it was a definite labor of love for me, so I persevered; I won a number of awards for it, and it takes pride of place above my bed. You can do it, and you'll love it when it's done!

6:16 PM  
Blogger Leah said...

I feel your pain. I've been working (or should I say not working) on Celtic Christmas for two years, maybe more. I hope your get yours finished!!

6:18 PM  
Blogger Trish said...

My friend Measie started stitching her last week. I plan to do the Summer one. Hope it goes better for you! It does look beautiful!

Hugs

Trish

2:19 PM  
Blogger Melissa said...

Your Evil Devil Woman in Red is so much farther along than is mine, Adana, but I feel your pain nonetheless. ;-) I did pull her out and work on her for my Thursday project.

3:43 AM  
Blogger Cindy said...

It looks like you're pretty far along on this...but I can totally relate to what caused the enthusiasm to screech to a halt!

It'll be a great victory to finish her...you can do it :)

5:21 AM  
Blogger CJ in OK ;-) said...

My only comment to this is to remember that cross stitch is suppose to be something you do for enjoyment. If your not having fun stop, if you hate a piece throw it away. If it becomes a negative influence in your life then whats the point. Fine whats fun again in cross stitch. I wish you Happy Stitching, CJ

10:43 PM  

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